'The Wolf Among Us': A gripping detective tale (review)

Depending on how you play “The Wolf Among Us,” Sheriff Bigby can be a bully, a by-the-book cop or even a soft-hearted ruffian. One thing is certain, however: He's having a bad day.

As if keeping a cast of storybook characters from arousing suspicion in the real word weren't daunting enough, now there's a killer on the loose. If Bigby doesn't put the clues together soon, Fabletown will descend into panic.

“The Wolf Among Us” is an episodic adventure series from Telltale Games, the developer behind last year's smash hit, “The Walking Dead.

“An adaptation of the “Fables” comic books, this downloadable, five-part story follows the story of fairytale characters, known as fables, who have been exiled from their homeland and now live among unsuspecting humans in New York City.

Episode 1, “Faith,” released this month for $5 on Mac, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

From the outset, Telltale establishes a classic noir atmosphere, complete with run-down apartment buildings, a callous slumlord and ample portrayals of human suffering. Life in the real world hasn't been kind to its famous inhabitants.

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Telltale's visual presentation is mesmerizing. With bold colors mimicking comic-book flair, the developer plays with contrast and shadow to masterful effect. It's stunning to see a line of harsh light climb Bigby and he strolls into its path, or to watch the reflection of the city project across the window of a passing cab.

The spell is broken all too quickly, however, as the developer rushes players into a brutal fight scene in the opening moments. Action, which is controlled through a series of quick-time button presses, isn't the game's strong suit. Heavy blows land with sickening crunches when done right, but there's hardly enough time to dodge opponents' attacks, and one slip-up can be enough to bump players back to a nearby checkpoint.

Once you get the hang of fisticuffs, fast-paced moments become more bearable. By the end of the roughly two-hour chapter, I was having fun finding out why everyone shies away when Bigby walks through the door.

Even if you're not a fan of the combat, it soon blends into the background as Telltale's story takes center stage. As with “The Walking Dead,” the developer shows it can weave a yarn like few others.

Whether he's growling threats or quipping sarcastically, Bigby's take on the old-school detective is irrepressibly enjoyable. Equally captivating are the fables who surround him. Through capable dialogue and voice acting, each character establishes a unique, intriguing personality, leaving just enough unsaid to keep the player intent on learning more.

The back-and-forth banter between fables is crucial to the tale. Whenever Bigby lies, intimidates or earns someone's trust, it has the potential to change how the story progresses. Decisions made in Episode 1 will carry over into later chapters. At the end of each episode, players are shown a list of choices, with a by-percentage breakdown the decisions other gamers made.

While trying to drag the truth out of a hostile interview can be a tense, engaging experience, actually searching each crime scene is a total bust. All of the clues are highlighted in bold, white circles, making them impossible to miss. The game goes so far as to zoom its camera in on important puzzle pieces while having Bigby speak the solution out loud in case you missed it.

This isn't detective work, it's checking off boxes on a to-do list.

Thankfully, Telltale's story far outshines such glaring flaws. Character interaction and intrigue kept me glued to the screen, and as soon as I completed “Faith” I jumped back in to see how making other choices would change the plot.

Last year, “The Walking Dead” started as a slow burn and built to a magnificent finish. Early indications provide plenty of hope that Telltale can make lightning strike twice.

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